Heating system.



B. A. SCHRODER.

HEATING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12. I915.

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BERNARD A. SCHRODER, OFBIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC GAS I RADIATOR COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ALABAMA.

HEATING SYSTEM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNARD A. SoHRo- DER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heating Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to heating systems in which a number of radiators are employed and each provided with individual valve controlled burnersfor gaseous fuel and in which the products of combustion are positively drawn ofi by an exhaust fan or blower from the several radiators through a manifold piping system and discharged into the atmosphere.

In heating systems of this character where gas is burned in the radiators, it is of vital importance that there should be a common control of the gas supply to the several radiators which will automatically respond if the exhaust draft stops for any reason, and instantly shut off the gas supply from all radiators in the entire heating system so that any possibility of escape of gas into rooms or compartments is avoided. In systems of this character it has heretofore been attempted to control the gas valves for the several radiators automaticall by the suction pressure as it existed at t e several radiators, or by controlling the valves by an electric circuit supplied by a generator driven with the fan. The objection to the former arrangement is that the suction action of the exhaust fan varies at each radiator in proportion to the distance of such radiator from the fan and inasmuch as the suction would have to be strong enough throughout the system to make sure of the control of the most remote radiator gas valves, it follows that an excessive suction will result at the radiators nearest the suction fan. Moreover, such' systems necessarily require so strong an exhaust or suction that the consumption ofthe gas is high and the cost of operation expensive.

According to my invention I propose to utilize as low an exhaust pressure as will Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

Application filed February 12, 1915. Serial No."7,801.

' cally responsive'to the suction or draft at or near the fan. In other words, I provide a master control which is responsive to the draft or suction action where it is most vigorous and effective in the manifold system and utilize a relay power, such as electricity, air or steam pressure, or like power transmission mediums to reach out and effect the closing of the distant individual radiator gas .valves throughout the whole system.

A further important feature of my invention consists in means for controlling the suction action at the different radiators so that the draft created thereby throughout the whole radiation system and regardless of distance from the suction fan, Wlll be substantially uniform. By interposing a valve thereby and there will be a minimum consumption of power in malntaining the draft. My invention further comprises the novel ,details of construction and arrangements of parts, which in their preferred embodiment is hereinafter more particularly described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a view showing a heating system having the electric central control for the radiator gas valves.

Fig.2 is an enlarged end view of a radiator section broken away to show the gas valve control mechanism and the draft damper.

Fig. 3 is a view of the modification of the blower operated mechanism for controlling the radiator gas valve.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

which is adapted to beattracted by a magnet 9 disposed within the casing 5 and having its wires 10 and 11 leading outwardly therefrom through suitably insulated openings. Acap plate 12 closes the top of easing 5 and carries the magnet. The bottom of the radiator sections are provided with openings 13 for supplying air to the burner. The wires 10 and 11 form a local control circuit for each radiator or each group of radiators and a thermostatic make and break control switch 14 may be interposed in each branch circuit. The several branch control circuits are connected up to the main control leads 15 and 16 which lead to the contact points 17 and 18 of the master control switch. This master control switch comprises a sensitive diaphragm 19 which is connected by a small rod 20 to a switch 27 which is adapted to open or close the master circuit at the contacts 17 or 18, according to the position of the diaphragm. The diaphragm 19 may be of any suitable construction and is attached suction pressure tight over a bottom opening in a hollow casing 21 having a threaded nipple 28 adapted to screw into a fitting 29 in the manifold suction exhaust pipe 22 at a point adjacent to the suction fan 23 which is driven by a motor 30. This suction pipe 22 is connected by branch pipes 24 with the upper ends of the several radiators 1 and serves to draw OK the products of'combustion and the gases therefrom and to prevent the escape of obnoxious gases into the compartment heated. The fan creates a light draft through the radiators which insures the proper combustion of the gases therein and delivers the exhaust products of combustion to a stack pipe 25 through which they are discharged into the outer atmosphere. I provide a suitable valve or damper 26 in each branch pipe 24: preferably at the radiator so that the draft therethrough can be regulated.

I have stated that themaster suction control switch is located at a point in the suction exhaust line adjacent to the fan. The object of this is to place the diaphragm where the suction action is strong enough to make certain and reliable the operation of the master control switch, and hence it may be placed at any convenient point where these conditions prevail. The diaphragm is so designed and connected to the switch that, upon the abnormal lowering or drop of the suction pull in the pipe 22, it will open the master control circuit and thereby release all of the radiator gas valves by denergizing their magnets so that all that are open at the time will close automatically and shut ofl the radiators, which cannot be again started up until the suction has been restored to normal conditions in the exhaust pipe 22. I do not undertake to state just how close it is desirable to locate the diaphragm to the suction fan as this depends upon the suction conditions in the pipe 22 and the power of the fan. Inasmuch as for the sake of economy in gas consumption, I propose to use sure the proper removal of the products of combustion from the most remote radiators in service, it will be advisable to place the diaphragm close enough to the fan to enable the suction action of the fan to hold the control circuit normally closed against sufficient resistance on the part of the diaphragm to make certain and reliable its opening movement and the opening of the master control circuit when the suction is abnormally diminished or interrupted. By adjusting the several valves or dampers 26, I obtain a substantially uniform draft throughout the radiators of the heating system, the valves for the radiators nearest the suction fan being but partly open and those for the radiators farther away being opened more widely until at the most remote radiators the dampers can be full open. This prevents the nearer radiators bleeding the suction to the disadvantage of the more dis-- tant radiators. Moreover by cutting ofi radiators from the suction system the power consumption at, th fan can be reduced to a minimum for the requirements of the heating system. ll provide the lower end of the suction pipe 22 with a trap drain 31. Ohviously the magnets may be designed for direct or alternating current and the diaphragm may be adapted to either open or close the master circuit when the suction is interrupted, the other parts being designed accordingly so that the interruption of the suction will efiect the closing of the individual radiator valves.

lit will be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to a diaphragm as the suction control means for the master control circuit, as any other equivalent mechanism may be employed with equal advantage without departure from the principle underlying my invention. For example, in Fig. 3 I show a very simple and efiective means for utilizing the direct action of the draft to control the master circuit. Here the stack pipe 25 is provided near the blower outlet with an ofi'set chamber 32, in the lowerpart of which ll pivot a vane or blade 33 having a shank 34 which projects through a small opening in the chamber 32 and has a contact plate 35 suitably insulated therefrom and adapted to contact with circuit terminals 17 and 18' when the vane is swung u wardly by the draft. 'The vane is slight y unbalanced so that it will swing down over the blower outlet when the draft becomes abnormally low or is interrupted, thereby breaking the master circuit. A light draft suficient to carry 0d the products of combustion from the radiators will be sufic'ient to position and hold it there,

i plurality of gas burning heaters swing the vane upwardly to the dotted line in which position the master circuit is closed by the plate 35.

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a gas burning heating system, a plurality of heaters having individual fuel supply valves, means to carry ofl to the atmoshere the products of combustion from said eaters, a master control means adapted to simultaneously and positively close said fuel. supply valves, and means responsive to pressure conditions of the draft at a predetermined point in the heating system to operate said master control means.

2. In a gas heating construction, the combination with a master electric circuit, and a plurality of heaters having individual fuel supply valves of electric local circuits con nected with the master circuit and control ling said valves, thermostatic circuit closers arranged in each local circuit, mean-s for delivering theproducts of combustion from the heaters to the atmosphere, and a circuit .closer located remote from the heaters and active under pressure variations in the last ,named means to control the master circuit.

3. In a heating system, in combination, a having ins dividual fuel supply valves, electric means to control from a distant point the closin of said several supply valves, a draft stac a piping system for carrying off the products of combustion from said heaters to said stack, a blower to induce through said piping system, and mechanism disposed between the stack and said several a positive draft anism located adjacent to the blower and directly controlled by the air pressure in said piping system near the blower for simultaneously shutting off the fuel from all of said heaters, substantially as described.

5. In a heating system, a plurality of as burning radiators having each an outlet ue and a valve means to shut off its fuel supply,

a draft stack with which said fiues connect and through which the products of combustion from the radiators are discharged into the outer atmosphere, electric means adapted to effect theclosing of each valve means, a

.master circuit which includes said several electric means, and a control means located at a remote point from the radiators for said master circuit which is responsive to variations in the stack draft and is adapted to effect the interruption of fuel supply to the radiators when the draft decreases abnormally.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. BERNARD A. SCHRODER.

Witnesses:

N OMIE WELSH, R. D. JOHNSTON, Jr. 

